Displaying items by tag: water

OPINION: New Zealanders like their rivers to be clear, to be able to see through the water to the bottom — but this is not always possible.

The Government’s freshwater proposals represent a blunt instrument for complex water problems, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

Federated Farmers says it didn’t have a say in a new plan on water quality, even though farmers are expected to bear the brunt of the proposal.

Sheep and beef farmers are unhappy with the Government’s proposals to improve freshwater quality around the country.

DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says the dairy sector and our farmers share the same vision communities, Māori and Government have to protect and improve our freshwater resources.

The Government says it is taking action to stop the degradation of waterways and clean up rivers and lakes within a generation.

Simply keeping stock out of waterways arguably gives the “best bang for your buck” for water quality improvements, says DairyNZ Environment and catchment manager Aslan Wright-Stow.

Water will be costly and difficult to fix, says Guy Salmon, executive director of the policy think-tank Ecologic and a driving force behind the Land and Water Forum.

Could our riparian systems become overloaded and therefore useless? 

OPINION: Most of us are under the impression that all New Zealand has fertile soil that’s great for growing food. It’s more or less a fairy tale.